The Chattogram Seaport and the Customs House, Chattogram (CHC), have regained access to their internet connection after nearly a week of disruption.
While the connection has been restored, other stakeholders experienced initial delays in regaining connectivity. Compounding the issue, container handling procedures have slowed significantly, with 42,000 containers currently stacked at the port, causing a substantial backlog.
Additionally, importers were unable to file bills of entry, and the CHC could not charge tariffs for goods. As the port faces severe congestion, private container depots are also at capacity with exportable products. The ongoing state-imposed curfew has prevented the timely shipping of many containers filled with exportables and empty ones, aggravating the backlog.
The seaport has also faced major disruptions in its container discharge process due to the internet crisis, with 42,150 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) stacked as of July 22. In response to the crisis, the customs authority initiated a manual discharge process, which proved inadequate.
Slow discharge
Despite partial restoration of the internet connection, the discharge process remains slow, hampered by the still slow internet speeds.
As of July 25, the Chattogram port's various yards discharged 39,975 TEUs, compared to 41,620 TEUs on July 23 and 41,459 TEUs on July 24, indicating a decline in the rate of container discharge.
According to data from the CHC, some 3,823 bills of entry were assessed between July 19-24. This included two from the Export Processing Zones (EPZs), some 3,793 from off-dock for export, and 26 directly from CHC, with 993 bills of entry processed on July 23 alone.
CHC Joint Commissioner Md Tariq Hassan addressed the ongoing issues caused by the internet blackout, stating to The Business Post, "Initially, the filing of the bills of entry and exports were halted due to the internet outage. However, on July 23, CHC began processing bills of entry through a special arrangement facilitated by the Asycuda World System.
"To assist stakeholders still experiencing internet connectivity issues, four ethernet connections have been provided to the C&F Agents Association’s room at CHC, enabling them to file bills of entry, ensuring that they can continue their operations."
Idle trucks and lorries
Regarding the container jam, C&F Agents Association President AKM Akhter Hossain told The Business Post, “Product discharge remains closed due to the internet shutdown. This resulted in container jam which will increase the port demurrage.
“Now everyone tends to discharge their products as fast as they can, which will increase the container congestion outside the port,” he warned.
During a field visit in July 25, this correspondent observed hundreds of trucks and lorries idling outside Chattogram port, awaiting entry to discharge their cargo.
Addressing the situation, Chattogram Port Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk told The Business Post, "While our internal activities have continued despite the internet shutdown, we encountered significant challenges in deliveries. Now that the internet has been restored, we are hopeful that the container backlog will return to normal soon."
